Cell Size and Granularity

Using
Flow Cytometry one can determine relative size
of cells or events using a known control. Using the FSC and
SSC parameters
one can look at a mix of cells and distinguish them from one
another
based off of size and internal complexity.

Along the X-axis is the FSC(Forware SCatter)
parameter.
This parameter is a measurement of the amount of the laser
beam that
passes around the cell. This gives a relative size for the
cell. If
one uses a known control or standard such as beads with a
known size,
one can determine the relative size of the cells based on the
size of
the control or standard.

Along the Y-axis is the SSC(Side SCatter)
parameter.
This parameter is a measurement of the amount of the laser
beam that
bounces off of particulates inside of the cell. Any laser
light of the
same wavelength of the laser(488nm) that bounces off of things
inside
the cell is collected and recorded as SSC.

Using a bead of known size one can determine
the size
of a population based on the FSC parameters.